US space agency Nasa has announced it is moving forward with development of a nuclear-powered rover that will land at the Moon’s South Pole.

The six-wheeled rover, named Polar Rover for Observation, Mapping and In-Situ Exploration, or Promise, will search for water ice and other resources that could support a permanent human presence on the Moon.

Built largely from existing hardware developed for Nasa’s Curiosity and Perseverance Mars missions, it will be able to operate through long lunar nights and inside permanently shadowed craters where solar-powered vehicles face significant limitations.